Spains Prisoner 7

"Let go of me, dammit!" Romano screamed, kicking and howling curses and threats as Alfred threw him into an empty room, quickly shutting the door before he could crawl off the floor where he was thrown. He had woken up as the American moved him out of his tight embrace so he could put him in the room. But, when he found he was no longer in Spain's safe arms, he yelled and tried his best to get away from his former playmate, but to no avail.

Once it was locked, Alfred went back over to Arthur, trying his best to ignore the yelling that continued through the oak door and kicks that sent annoying bangs through the cabin they had settled into.

"Do not look so worried, my love. I promise you, this will help us and our countries. We aren't going to hurt the boy as long as we stay here. We're just steering Spain into the right direction." Arthur cooed to him softly, not fazed at all from the commotion and ran one gloved hand through the caramel hair of his underling. He pushed himself forward, his thin lips pressing softly onto the other's tanned forehead. He knew Alfred's natural love of being the hero, acts of doing what was right and yearning desire to do nothing but service others. It did make pirating a bit difficult sometimes, but they had learned to deal with it and adapt to where it would suit everyone in the crew.

Arthur also knew the boy loved him but would do anything in his power to stop him from hurting the annoying, little Italian they now held prisoner or Spain even though he had clearly been hurt by the boy's words. He could act naive and was very childish, but when it came to being the hero, Alfred was physically suitable and mentally enthusiastic.

That was why Arthur often had to be cautious with what plans and problems he told Alfred. He would never lie. No, he would never lack such honor or be so disloyal to his love as to lie to him. But, sometimes, he knew there were things Alfred didn't want to know, and so he would never tell.

The Brit's arm wrapped around the younger boy's waist, pulling him closer against him as his other hand kept trailing gently through his hair. "I shall meet with Antonio as planned after sunset in the bar. There, we will finish our discussion and we shall see if he will finally accept and let the English rule take over Spain and all his other colonies! He is bound to fall if he doesn't. All the land he owns near your country and now south Italy. It's like that fool is trying to throw himself into bankruptcy. And he shall unless he agrees with allowing us to take over and to aid him and his poor people." The Englishman mumbled into the boy's hair.

So, once again, the crafty pirate told Alfred everything he would want to know, but not what he wouldn't. The only thing he had failed to mention on behalf of his lover was his plan to keep and expose of the irritating Italian if Spain were to still refuse next time they meet. But, he was sure that wouldn't happen.

~~~ Elsewhere ~~~

"What do we do, Captain?" One of the random crew members asked, rain pouring down but they had all come back to the bar later that day. He sat with some of the others, most still sober and listening in worry. They had worked so hard to get that brat and claim South Italy for their own, and then that ignorant Brit just comes and takes him away! They would have none of it!

"We will kill him!" One shouted angrily.

"Hang him in the gallows!" Yelled another.

"Burn him like the witch he is!" Still crazy, violent ideas sprang up like wildfire before Spain called for attention.

"No. No! We can't, no violence. That wouldn't help us at all. I know Arthur's ways better than you all, and I can tell you now he isn't one to spill any information even if you beat him black and blue." Antonio sighed, shaking his head. He didn't want to accept, he couldn't! But, Romano needed him and he had no idea where to look for him. He had already sent many of his underlings to search but so far none of them have found a hint of Kirkland's crew or Romano.

"No, no violence. Let me handle it. No matter what happens, do not get involved. This is between me and Kirkland alone." The Spaniard uttered threateningly, standing up and walking out into the chilly rain.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Artie," Alfred whined, listening to the boy still bang on the door. Though it had slowed down and wasn't as loud now that the hours had passed. Obviously the Italian had gotten much more tired and Alfred was sure he could hear sobs on the other side. "Artie, Lovino is so miserable. Could I at least go in there to try and calm him down?"

"But then he might escape when they door is open. Just wait a little longer. Eventually he'll tire out more and won't be able to run at all. Then you may go in and bring him some food, alright?" Arthur replied smoothly, running his fingers through Alfred's hair as his head sat comfortably in his lap. The younger male's arms were around his thin waist and Arthur liked having his underling lying in his lap and hugging his torso close as he was. It calmed him as he sat there, looking over maps and such.

Sure enough, less than two hours later, Lovino had only enough energy to lay down on the cold ground and cry. His panting breaths warming the floor next to his stony body but his eyes were blinded by the bitter tears that ran down his face, stinging in his eyes.

"Lovino?" Alfred whispered into the dark room where he was kept. He pushed the door open a bit more so that the candles in the other room would illume into the colorless one he was stepping into now. He frowned hurtfully, watching the boy cry in front of him. He grabbed an extra candle, holding it up and closing the door behind him. In his other hand he held a plate of food.

"Lovino-" He tried again.

"Get the hell away from me you damn bastard!" The Italian yelled hoarsely, burying his hate filled face in his trembling hands. "Get away from me! Just let me die without having to look at your face!"

"Lovino! W-We aren't going to kill you! We just need you here so Artie can talk to Antonio and get the treaty settled. Here, you should eat now." He told him, holding out the plate and placing on the ground beside his head.

Lovino stared hungrily at the food. But, it was English food, wasn't it? He didn't want to risk food poisoning…

"I thought you said you weren't going to kill me…" He muttered sarcastically, poking the food as he sat up.

"Huh? We aren't. Oh! No, eat it, it won't kill you either. I promise. It's something we got out of town." Alfred encouraged, knowing full well not many people liked English food. He didn't understand why though, it tasted fine to him.

Romano picked slowly at the food, taking small bites as he tested it. It was fine, he guessed. Not as bad as English cooking, that was for sure.

"So, I thought maybe, we could finish our game while Artie is gone." Alfred asked, reaching into his pocket and pulled out some marbles. He sat on the floor with the Italian and set the game up.

"He's not here?"

"Arthur? No. He left to talk to your Captain." The American explained simply. "Alright, we're ready to play!" He laughed, settling the candle on the ground so they could see the marbles better.

Lovino felt a chill of fear go through him but not because of Alfred. He was alright, actually, and he thought they could be friends maybe. But, this feeling left him colder and all he muttered was a quiet, "Yeah…" Before making his move with the marbles.

~~~~~~

"I'm glad to see you made it, Captain Antonio. I was getting afraid you wouldn't show up." Arthur mused casually, taking a drink of his rum.

Just like he had said, The Englishman was waiting on the same stool as before, sucking rum from the glass.

"You didn't leave me much of a choice, did you, Captain Kirkland."

"Right. Now, sit down and grab a shot so we can do what we came here for."

Spain walked over, back straight and his glare showed none of his worry and fear as he sat beside the Brit.

"Well, do you have your answer?" Arthur asked slyly, his voice quiet as he spoke into his jug.

"I do." Antonio replied, taking a sip from his own he had received.

"Well? Have you finally come to your senses then, Captain?"

"Si." Antonio answered. "If you let Romano go, and give him back, I will sign your treaty."

A wide grin spread sadistically across the triumphant Brit's face. "Of course, Antonio! That was the deal, and I am a man of my word."

"Si. Si. Now, go bring me Romano so I can get this over with." He growled.

"Ah, not so fast, my friend. Can't we just sit here for a while and celebrate with our drinks?"

"I'd rather not…mi amigo." Antonio grumbled, not liking having to be nice to this man beside him. "Can we please just go on with our agreement with such pauses?"

"Ah, but how else will my crew have enough time to get that annoying brat onto our ship before we set sail?"

"Wh-What?"

"Of course!" Arthur laughed. "You didn't think you were going to get him back, did you!"

Antonio boiled angrily. "But in your letter! You said you would return him to me!"

"Of course, of course! And we shall. After we bring him with us back to England and get this whole deal settled! You and that brat shall belong to me and if you change your mind and refuse now I will kill him without a second thought!" Arthur threatened. "So, you either let me bring him with me for now or let him die. Which will it be?"

The Spaniard shook in fuming anger. "You bastard!" He hissed, his hands in fists as they trembled before one lifted and shot for the Englishman's face.

"Wh-What? Bloody hell!" England yelled angrily, now on the dirty floor, touching his face where he had been punched. It stung and he knew it would be bruised later. "You damn Spaniard! You'll pay for being so ignorant!"

The Brit swung his own punch after he climbed off the floor. They went back and forth before rapidly the entire bar was in uproar and throwing punches and smashing chairs over one another's heads.

"He'll pay. He'll pay!" Arthur repeated, barging through the bar doors and started running towards the cabin where they were all settled. He could hear the thunder and see the flashes of lightening through the howling winds. But, they rain was light and not pouring like earlier.

"He'll pay! Alfred!" Arthur yelled when he crashed through the cabin door. "Alfred! Crew! We're leaving! Alfred, all of you, get to the ship, now!" He screamed harshly, his face showing his pure anger. He grabbed two large crew members, making them stay behind while all the others started their surprised leave towards the dock.

"You two. You two are going to help me dispose of the brat!" Arthur spat, just loud enough for Alfred who was just making it out the door, to hear.

He whipped around, his face horrified. "Artie! Artie! You can't hurt Romano!" He cried out.

"Shut the hell up, Alfred! I told you we aren't going to hurt him! We're going to kill him! Burn him alive in this damned old cabin!"

"You promised you wouldn't though! You said you wouldn't harm him!"

"I said I wouldn't until I had Antonio's answer, as long as we stay here and now I do and we're leaving! You! Get Alfred in the ship! Now! We need to set this building afire before the rain comes!"

"No! Artie! Don't hurt Lovino! Please, Arthur! Arthur!" He kicked at the other man, but he was bigger than him and was easily dragged away yelling.

"Alright…come on, let's finish this job. Go find me the rope." Arthur trudged with his underling to the room Romano was kept in. He slammed the door against the wall as he shoved it open, glaring down at the boy. He grabbed the auburn hair, pulling him roughly with him.

"Ah! What the hell! Let me go, dammit!"

"Shut your bloody trap, rat!" Arthur snapped, getting a shocked look from the younger boy.

"Sir, the rope." The Underling came back, letting Arthur snatch the rope away from him.

"What are you doing! Stop! Don't tie me to this damned place!"

"Shut up!" Arthur barked, wrapping the quivering boy to the tall pole that helped hold the ceiling up. He tied it tightly, not caring as it gave Lovino difficulty to breath.

"Get the remaining rum. Pour it around the outside of the cabin and some inside. We need something to help ignite the fire…"

"F-Fire? Fire! You are tying me up to burn!? No! Antonio! Antonio!" Lovino screamed, tears starting to stream his face again as he squirmed helplessly. His voice was rough and not as loud as normal because the rope cut hurtfully into his body.

Arthur ignored the pleas though and grabbed a candle in each hand. He just watched the Italian boy scream and try to break free with hatred in his green, British eyes that would send a shiver down Ivan's back.

"Done, sir." The underling announced after a few minutes had past.

"Good. Grab two candles as well and follow me out. It's time this brat dies and ends this trouble of ours." Arthur muttered, not bothering to watch the other do as he was told, as he knew he would. He stepped into a chilly sprinkle, confident it was still dry enough with all the trees covering it and the lack of heavy rain that the cabin would have little trouble burning to the ground. "Goodbye, South Italy." He muttered to the screams still from inside as he threw both the candles to where he saw the rum.

The alcohol embraced the flames eagerly, spreading them without trouble to the rest of the spots of poison the underling had poured around. Arthur watched the flames that both he and his crew member had started, quickly burning higher and grabbing onto the chipping wood that made up the cabin. "Let's go." He ordered, turning around and walking away from the expanding excitement.

~~~~~
"Where is he!? Kirkland!" Spain bust through the doors of the bar, his glaring eyes shooting around hungrily around for the man he had just found to not be in the bar. "Kirkland!"

"Let me go!" Alfred yelled, kicking the man in the face hard enough for him to release him. He gathered himself and started running, hiding behind a building before the underling could figure out where he went.

"Kirkland!" Spain yelled again, this time, Alfred heard it.

He looked around before spotting the fuming Spanish man.

"Captain Antonio?" The American called back, running up to him hurriedly. "Captain Antonio! Thank God!"

"You!" Antonio yelled, grabbing the short boy's collar and pulling him close. "Where is that low down Captain of yours? Where is my Lovino!"

"Yes! That's what I want to tell you! You have to help!"

Antonio shook his head and let the boy go, forcing himself to calm down. "Alright. Alright. What? Help with what?"

"Lovino! You must go into the forest!" Alfred pointed with a shaky finger. "You have to save him! Save him before my Captain burns him in the cabin there! Look! Smoke, it's already started! Go! Go! You have to save Lovino, please!"

Antonio was shocked to hear the boy. He sounded like he actually cared about his little Italian. He must care, yes, he could see it in his eyes he didn't like the pain and suffering. It was true, he had heard that Kirkland's lover and help wasn't much of a pirate type. But, once he heard the rest, he was in panicked fury again. "Yes! Thank you, Alfred! Thank you! Lovino, I'm coming!" He shouted, running off top speed towards the smoke he saw.

"There you are!" The man who had forced Alfred all the way back to town growled, rubbing his face where he had been kicked. "Come on!"

"Alright," Alfred muttered, but still watched as Antonio quickly disappeared out of sight range. 'Please, let Antonio be the hero this time. Don't let Arthur be a villain…please. Let Lovino live. Please. Please let Lovino live!' He turned and walked with the man back towards the ship, his head bowed in shadows the entire way up into the vessel.

"Hurry up, you all! I want this ship gone before I see the flame!" Arthur yelled, having made it back with the other man not long after Alfred and his "escort" had.

The American teen didn't move. He stood at the edge of the ship, watching as the smoke grew darker and darker, showing the fire was getting larger and larger. He couldn't bear to look at Arthur. His heart cracked with the pain of his love, his Captain, his Arthur, being so evil as to kill Lovino who Alfred saw no reason for him to be. He whispered softly, the yells, stomping movements, commands, everything from the rest of the crew were muted in his mind as he thought. "Please, God. Please, let Antonio get to Lovino in time…"